Music fans worldwide celebrate the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra‘s birth on Dec. 12, 1915, and leading the centennial tributes is “Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air,” a four-CD collection of “The Voice’s” rare and popular radio performances from 1935-1955.

Noted Sinatra expert, author, producer and broadcaster Charles L. (“Chuck”) Granata led a team of producers, researchers and engineers in compiling the package for Sony/Legacy. Among Granata’s collaborators was associate producer Martin Melucci, also a major Sinatra collector.

The production team started with ’40s- and ’50s-vintage disc source material Granata has been collecting for decades, then filled in the blanks with material from other Sinatra collectors.

The producers used a combination of the latest digital and vintage analog equipment and techniques to restore the discs.
The result is a theater-of-the-mind experience that puts the listener right into Sinatra’s studio audiences.

Santa Clarita journalist Stephen K. Peeples spoke via Skype with East Coasters Granata and Melucci for nearly an hour in early December 2015. The in-depth conversation covered a lot of territory, about the monumental task of compiling and producing the boxed set specifically, and how critical radio was in various phases of his career.

Part 1 of the interview covers Radio’s Role in Sinatra’s Career. Part 2 looks at the Evolution of Sinatra’s Repertoire. Part 3 compares Sinatra on Radio & Records. Part 4 details how “A Voice on Air” is The Missing Link in Sinatra’s Catalog. Part 5 features deep Production Notes for Tech Geeks.

In Part 6, Granata and Melucci discuss ‘The Voice’s’ Voice over the years. Part 7 is about The Lost Sinatra & Les Paul Track – their one and only performance together. And in Part 8: Interview Wrap-up, we hear more about Sinatra’s legend and legacy.

Click the links below to watch the videos. Farther south you’ll find a selection of photos from the “A Voice on Air” production sessions, courtesy of Granata and Melucci.

Farther south you’ll find a selection of photos from the “A Voice on Air” production sessions, courtesy of Granata and Melucci.

Granata & Melucci Part 1: Radio’s Role in Sinatra’s Career

Granata & Melucci Part 2: Evolution of Sinatra’s Repertoire

Granata & Melucci Part 3: Sinatra on Radio & Records

Granata & Melucci Part 4: The Missing Link in Sinatra’s Catalog

Granata & Melucci Part 5: Production Notes for Tech Geeks

Granata & Melucci Part 6: ‘The Voice’s’ Voice

Granata & Melucci Part 7: The Lost Sinatra & Les Paul Track

Granata & Melucci Part 8: Interview Wrap-up

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Chuck Granata and Andreas Meyer mastering “A Voice on Air.”Setting up the McIntosh C8S tube phono preamplifier.McIntosh C8S closer up.Columbia vintage lacquer disc on a Technics SP-15 in a custom plinth. Pickering 190 tonearm, with Shure SC35C cartridge and multiple custom styli from Expert UK.Andreas Meyer checking for off-center playback while transferring a disc.Andreas Meyer taking notes on a transfer.Transferring a vintage Columbia master lacquer.Transfer in progress.Chuck Granata and Martin Melucci during a transfer session for “A Voice on Air.”Transferring a lacquer master disc, raised to help correct an off-center cut.Andreas Meyer seeing the light.Andreas Meyer selecting a section of a song to investigate a sonic flaw.Andreas Meyer manually removing a single click while restoring a track for “A Voice on Air.”Martin Melucci and Andreas Meyer mastering “A Voice on Air.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Santa Clarita journalist and Grammy-nominated producer Stephen K. Peeples is a Santa Clarita Valley, California-based entertainment reporter for television station SCVTV and SCVNews.com, as well as radio station KHTS-AM 1220 and its website HometownStation.com. He was the award-winning writer-producer of “The Lost Lennon Tapes” radio series for Westwood One in 1988-1990. Peeples hosted and co-produced SCVTV’s WAVE-nominated “House Blend” music and interview show for five seasons, 2010-2015, creating 69 shows spotlighting local artists performing their original material. He also blogs at his personal site, http://www.stephenkpeeples.com.